Indiana (35-27) opened up a 17-point lead in the second half and held on late for a 103-96 win over the Bucks (33-29) in a game with major playoff implications.

The Pacers have now won two of three games against their Central Division rivals this season, with one more meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Indianapolis. But Saturday's win assured that Indiana will own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bucks, as the Pacers have now clinched a better division record than Milwaukee, which is the second tiebreaker if two divisional opponents split their regular season series.

Both teams sputtered somewhat offensively in a physical first quarter that featured five technical fouls, but the Bucks held a narrow 21-18 advantage after the opening 12 minutes.

Indiana led for much of the second quarter, but trailed by one entering the break. The first half featured eight ties and nine lead changes.

The Pacers finally assumed control of the contest midway through the third quarter, reeling off a 14-1 run to open up a 67-58 lead, the first time either team led by more than five points all night. All-Star guard Victor Oladipo was brilliant over that stretch, capping the run by throwing down a ferocious dunk out of a pick-and-roll and then kicking out to Cory Joseph for an open three on the next possession.

Lance Stephenson helped the visitors finish the third quarter strong, converting an acrobatic layup at the third quarter buzzer to give Indiana a 78-67 advantage.

The Blue & Gold extended their lead to as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks responded. Milwaukee scored 12 unanswered points over a two-minute stretch to make it a 93-88 game with 4:12 to play.

Oladipo stopped the bleeding by knocking down a 3-pointer with 3:19 remaining, but the Bucks scored the next four points to trim their deficit to four with 1:28 to play.

Oladipo answered once again, this time burying a pull-up jumper to give Indiana a 98-92 lead with 1:13 remaining. On the other end, Khris Middleton drove and drew the sixth foul on Domantas Sabonis, then converted both free throws with 1:02 left.

After Myles Turner missed a jumper, All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had an open look at a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, but failed to even graze the rim, much to the home crowd's chagrin. The Pacers then sealed the victory at the free throw line in the closing seconds.

Oladipo led the Pacers with 21 points, while also collecting seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals. The former Indiana University All-American scored 17 of his points in the second half.

Lance Stephenson added 16 points off the bench, while Myles Turner contributed 13 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. Bojan Bogdanovic (14 points, four rebounds, and four assists), Cory Joseph (12 points, four assists, and three steals), and Thaddeus Young (10 points, eight rebounds, and four steals) all also scored in double figures in the win.

Middleton led all scorers with 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting, while Antetokounmpo added 24 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks for Milwaukee.